The Eurovision Song Contest format - just what Putin needs

The European Broadcasting Union, organiser of Europe's favourite TV-show, the Eurovision Song Contest, welcomed Russian Prime Minister Putin's idea to hold a song contest with China and Central Asia. The EBU said that it would be delighted to license Mr Putin the Eurovision Song Contest format.

The EBU owns and sells the format for one of the most-watched annual television events in Europe to countries across the world.

“Why not have the Song Contest in China, and Central Asia? We own the rights to an international song contest. We would be happy to sell the format to Prime Minister Putin,” said Bjørn Erichsen, Television Director at the EBU. “Investors have already signed a deal to make a version of the contest in the Middle East and North Africa. We are close to finalising a deal for a contest called Songs of Africa in sub-Saharan Africa,” he explained.

Putin made his statement at a recent meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Russia's capital Moscow hosted the Eurovision Song Contest earlier this year. The Russian Prime Minister visited the contest's venue to be informed about the preparations, just days before the first Semi-Final. His visit was captured on camera by Eurovision.tv's video crew: